Corticovid: Evidence and practical implications of the use of corticosteroids in covid-19

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) constitutes the greatest health and economic challenge of the last century. Since the beginning of 2020, world medical personnel have faced this emergency in the absence of treatments supported by reliable evidence. World Health Organization published an interim guidance in which it took sides against the use of cor-ticosteroids in the treatment of COVID-19. To date, however, we have more data available from clinical studies indicating that administration of systemic corticosteroids is associated with lower 28-day all-cause mortality. This review aims to briefly summarize the pathophysiological bases, the evidence currently available drawing some concepts applicable in daily clinical practice on the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID-19.